Need a little help with homemade brooder

[mandelyn]

At Lowes, the child's playsand and not the dustier "all purpose" or construction sand. The play sand has been sifted and washed prior to bagging.

 

[heby]

I bought the construction sand today. I read on another forum last night that it was better than the play sand and the chicks use it sometimes as grit. I'm hoping it works. I haven't used it yet since I just cleaned and put new shavings in today. However they have already knocked the waterer off of the block and spilled water on that end of the shavings.

 

[mandelyn]

You'll regret using that sand indoors. It's fine out in a run, but the dust that is kicked up is terrible. For an indoor brooder you definitely want sand that has been sifted and washed.

 

[WindGypsy]

I use sand in my brooder thanks to a thread I found on this forum, I've also started adding sweet PDZ to my sand mixture it really helps to keep down on the smell. The 25lbs bag cost me about 12.00 at my feed store and it is REALLY worth the extra money, I bought my play sand at Wall Mart for 3.00 a bag. I would much rather sift the sand every few days then have to change shavings every day.

 

[heby]

So play sand is better for indoors? What is PDZ?

 

[mandelyn]

Yes, playsand is better since it isn't as dusty.

PDZ is a stall dry/odor eliminater for horse stalls that is sold at most farm stores. "Sweet PDZ" is the name.

 

[heby]

I must not be doing something right. I got construction sand and play sand. After using the play sand, I decided that it was too compacted & hard to sift thru the small scooper to remove the poo. So I used the construction sand which was wonder and easy to sift. However it wasn't long before the chicks still smelled. So I went and bought some Sweet PDZ. I cleaned brooder, put in new sand, sprinkled the PDZ and mixed it up a little. Seemed good.....for a little while. I walk back in the room and they were beginning to smell again.

My hubby is not impressed even tho I have been trying all I can to keep smell to a minimum. Does it seem like I'm doing the right things?? Maybe I just have some big poopers. haha

 

[LemonberryMoon]

I've been using sand from day one and no smell (brooder is in the living room). I sprinkle a little baking soda on it after sifting (with a reptile scoop, like a kitty litter scoop with smaller holes) once per day. It's dusty when cleaning but that's the only drawback I've noticed. I put their food/water on a wood block as well. They do get food on the sand, but it's easy for them to see and peck at.

 

[aggiemae]

Went the sand starts to smell it is usually a sign that the chicks are to crowded. I am going to move our ~6 week old chicks outside this weekend.

 

[PandoraChick]

The play sand you bought was probably wet from being stored outdoors/etc. I know from when I filled my daughters sandbox last year...Once it dried it out it was really nice though. If you still have some play sand, empty into some containers and let it dry out in the sun...it should work really nice once it is dry.

I am thinking of switching to sand in my coop instead of deep litter /wood pellets...,I could have heated my house all winter with what we spent on those bags of wood pellets all year!

We keep our brooders in the garage with all the other pets we have to worry about inside...But I do not notice bad odor out there....I use the pine chips for bedding.